The Crossing
The crossing from St Mary's Bay (U.K) to Wimerux (France) is approximately 30 miles across one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. The crossing itself should take in excess of 2 hours of flat out sailing with speeds around 20 - 30 knots.
The Team
-
Julian King
Julian grew up windsurfing. Aged 12 he was propelled onto the regional and national UKWA competition circuit where he achieved 3 times regional Formula Windsurf Champion and an array of overall top 10 placements on the UKWA circuit.
He thought it was high time he achieved his goal of windsurfing the Channel and to do it for a worthy cause. You will find him practicing on the south coast of Cornwall if you would like to join in the madness.
-
Alexander Hill
Having worked as a kite surfing instructor in the Dominican Republic, Egypt and Greece and travelled extensively over the world in the quest for perfect conditions, the dream has changed. The lust for golden sands and warm trade winds have been blown away by the prevailing south westerly’s, instead, the white bubble above his head now holds visions of 30 knot horizontal rain and the beauty of Britain's finest brown and fuel glazed shipping lanes, chop is the new flat! France here we come!!!
-
Fergus Backhouse
With a keen sailor for a father and having spent several years of his early childhood living in Australia Fergus has been interested in water sports from an early age. In his early twenties he saw the light and realized the inferiority of all these water sports next to windsurfing. Since then he has qualified as an instructor, teaching in Greece and Portugal, and sailed throughout the south coast.
-
Jay Ramage
Jay felt the calling to water sports from an early age after numerous sailing holidays. When he was jumped over by a kite surfer he made the switch and never looked back. After making his first return crossing to a neighbouring island of Los Lobos from Fuerteventura, he had always dreamt of doing the channel crossing. As a surveyor based in London he craves more days on the water with his fellow motley crew – beware this should have been called Channel Carnage!
-
Charlie Toogood
Charlie owns The Camel Ski School in Rock, Cornwall. He has spent the last 9 years running his business – instructing wakeboarding and waterskiing at all levels. When time allows, he spends as much time as he can playing on the water. He has always been keen to take on new challenges and having found kite surfing in the last year is excited about The Channel Charge and its fantastic cause. Although perhaps the weaker member of the group, he will be striving hard to contribute towards the team and its goal.
-
Henry Latham
A keen amateur photographer and mild adrenaline junkie, the opportunity to spend the day in a rib getting thrown about whilst trying to capture the action was too good to turn down. “It'll be a challenge in itself just to stay up with these guys and get the snaps right, but it will be worth every effort to capture this event and document it in respect of those who risk their lives every day for the safety of others. Please give generously and support the lads in their efforts and come back to see the results.”
Sponsors
